PE at KS1 communication difficulties and dyslexia

The National Curriculum for Physical Education is statutory in all maintained, mainstream schools up to and including key stage 4. An appropriate version of the curriculum is used in maintained special schools. Key Stage 1 (KS1) covers years 1-2, children aged 5-7 years.

Communication difficulties

Make sure there’s plenty of time, before or during the lesson, to give instructions using communication devices, such as PECS or signing.

Dyslexia

The child may have problems understanding and remembering instructions, names of play positions and specialist equipment.  They may struggle with the awareness of time.

Give very clear instructions and make terminology memorable; take a logical approach and use visual support – a named diagram of a netball court, with the players’ positions marked on it, will be more helpful than them playing different positions themself.

Try using colour coding for equipment and for team members so that members of the same team are very obvious and they can compare their own band easily with other pupil’s band colour.

Read in conjunction with the main challenges for children with communication difficulties and dyslexia across subject areas, and some suggestions to help them.